Finished Stadio Olimpico
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Live Commentary
Time:80'- Italy
- England
80'+1 England run out 19-15 winners despite an outstanding Italian effort in incredibly difficult conditions. Italy were excellent in the first half, but England were impressive in turning it around in the second half. Thanks for joing us - we'll be back later on (weather permitting) for France v Ireland at 8pm.- 80'+1 Italy being ultra-careful and patient, England's defence on red alert and making sure there are no gaps... but there's the error as Bortola sees the ball slip out of his hands!
- 80' Italy keeping the ball well, but the clock is in the red. No mistakes now...
- 79' Italy win a turnover and Parisse makes another run up the centre of the pitch, winning another scrum for the Italians. Last chance saloon for the home side.
- 78' Italy still with the ball, going wide to try to find space, but there's a knock on and England will get the ball back.
- 77' From an England scrum Hodgson gets the ball and grubbers the ball through the middle, but Masi grabs it and tries to run back at the visitors.
76' Mauro Bergamasco is coming on for Barbieri, but there's only a few minutes left for the veteran campaigner to make something happen.
75' Italy really need this one to stay in the match... but YEARGHH! That's horrific from Botes, who totally mishits that fairly simple one. The ball only barely goes over the try line.- 74' Botes gets a bit of treatment, then picks himself up and will have a go at goal from the 15m line, 30m out.
- 73' The game is turning into a kick-ping-pong match again, but Botes tries to make something happen with a kick-through. For his troubles Chris Ashton pushes him in the back, shoving him to the floor and is lucky not to be sin-binned.
- 72' Italy win the ball back, but again turn it over. Hodgson tries to kick for the corner but Masi is there to return it with interest.
- 71' Lovely handling by Italy's backs as they prove for gaps... but it's all undone by Semenzato who spills it. England win the turnover.
- 70' The throw is cleanly taken by Mourtiz Botha and England clear to touch; and Italy throw-in this time, just inside the 10m line.
- 69' Botes makes up for his miss with a great kick for touch. Throw in 5m out, England ball.
- 68' That's a horror show of a penalty from Botes, whose effort was closer to the corner flag than the uprights.
- 67' Straight from the restart Parling hangs onto the ball on the deck and it's a penalty. Botes to have a shot at goal, 40m out and dead in front.
66' PENALTY TO ENGLAND: England lead 19-15 as Farrell lands the simplest of kicks.- 66' Italy collaspe the scrum as prop Lo Cicero fails to keep his binding, and it's a penalty dead in front. The Italian dream of a win to parallel last year's victory over France is slowly dying.
- 65' From the scrum Parisse takes the ball and tries to run, but he's almost cut in half by a Robshaw tackle and loses the ball. Scrum, 30m out from the Italy line, middle of the pitch, England put-in.
- 64' More replacements, with Italy bringing on Luca Morisi for his debut. Canale comes off.
- 63' England's forwards try to inch forward, but they knock it on and Italy win the turnover. There's a moment of excitement in the crowd as Gori's kick is charged down and Barritt touches down, but the ref was just playing advantage blue.
- 62' Another surging run from Barritt, who breaks two tackles and gets to within 5m of the Italy line.
- 61' This is like a different England side, adventurous and fast as Barritt and Ashton link up to try to release Strettle on the right. He gets nailed by three blue shirts, but England keep the ball.
- 60' Italy win their line-out, but only by crossing according to the referee. Penalty to England which they kick for touch.
- 59' A few changes made on either side including Palmer coming off and Parling coming on in his place as the Italians win a penalty from a scrum breakdown.
- 58' It's started snowing again, and for Italy it's snowing England players at the moment.
- 57' From the breakdown England spin it wide, with Barritt making a great run - but just as he's about to offload the tryscoring pass to Foden in the corner Masi is there to intercept.
- 56' Ben Morgan, fresh on for Dowson, makes a nice run up the left to get England moving forward yet again; he can't offload but takes the ball into contact well.
- 55' ENGLAND LAND ANOTHER PENALTY! Farrell hits another beautiful kick and England lead 16-15.
- 54' England use the lineout as a great platform to come forward, Dickson flinging the ball out at speed to get things moving a much faster pace. Italy, in disarray, concede another penalty - this time right in front, 30m out.
- 53' England are beginning to put some rugby together, and a clever kick forces Tobias Botes - on for Burton - into conceding a line-out.
- 52' England replace Ben Youngs with Lee Dickson for the last half hour.
- 52' That's two chargedown tries in as many weeks for Charlie Hodgson - if there's some sort of stat for how unusual that is, we're afraid we don't have it to hand...
- 51' FARRELL CONVERTS, ITALY 15-13 ENGLAND: Owen Farrell lines up the extra points, and smashes the ball cleanly through the sticks. Magnificent kicking from the 20-year-old.
51' TRY FOR ENGLAND OUT OF NOTHING! Italy 15-11 England. England turned the ball over yet again, but as the Italian full-back Masi tried to kick for touch Charlie Hodgson was there to charge down! The ball ricocheted kindly and Hodgson is in for a try!- 50' England are back in possession and coming back upfield.
- 49' Burton is subbed off after landing that kick - and that's a good shout, he's been probably the least effective of the Italian backs.
- 48' PENALTY BY ITALY! Italy lead 15-6! Burton lines up the kick from 40m out, and curls it perfectly just inside the right upright. Italy are playing England off the park.
- 47' Another penalty for that shove, which was correctly ruled accidental - neither Croft nor Parisse were looking at anything other than the ball - so no yellow card.
- 47' Bad mistake from Burton - he misses touch, but now there's controversy as Parisse is taken out by Croft off the ball.
- 46' Tom Palmer gets a brief talking-to for tackling Parisse in the air. Penalty to Italy on their own 10m line.
- 45' Both teams have clearly been told to calm down and hang onto the ball a lot better now.
- 44' Italy win the throw-in, and after a couple of phases they spin it back for Burton to try a drop goal - but his attempt is mis-timed and falls well short.
- 43' England turn it over, and then concede the penalty for Palmer coming round the side.
- 42' England are keeping possession of the ball patiently in the middle of the park, short passes and patient build-up as they look for an opening.
41' We're back in action in Rome; can England get back into this match against an opposition who have so far outplayed them everywhere except the front row?- - An absolutely unbelievable end to the half, but you have to say Italy are excellent value for their 12-6 lead. They've been by far the more creative and enterprising team, and only a string of handling errors stopped them getting some return earlier on. But the hosts were ruthless there, pouncing on England's mistakes.
- 40'+2 Burton lands the extra points from straight in front, and that's the end of the half.
- 40'+1 The Italian centre grabbed a brilliant interception from a poor offload by Foden intended for Hodgson, then raced down the middle of the pitch to score. Amazing stuff!
- 40' ITALY HAVE SCORED AGAIN! BENVENUTI GOES IN UNDER THE POSTS!
- 40' Burton tugs his kick just to the left, leaving England ahead by a point.
- 39' It'll be a very tough kick for Burton, right on the touchline....
- 38' TRY FOR ITALY! 6-5! The Italians keep coming in waves and at speed, with Burton slipping another ball through into the corner that Foden spills, and Venditti steals through to pounce on the ball and score in the corner!
- 38' Italy make a move, Burton kicking through to chase - and England's defenders miss it! Italy keep coming!
- 37' Italy win the ball from the restart and are camping on the England 22m...
- 36' PENALTY GOAL - 6-0 ENGLAND: Farrell lands another one, straight at the posts once more though short of power - but it dropped just over the bar!
- 35' The scrum is on its third reset, and yet again Italy spin it round - this time the ref says it's no accident, England penalty from almost the exact spot Farrell scored from earlier.
- 35' England have a scrum on the Italian 10m as we get going again.
34' Castrogiovanni seems to have got a broken rib here - he's coming off and will be replaced by Cittadini.- 34' Owen Farrell is now having a cut on his head patched up as well - the bandage somehow makes him look even younger than his 20 years.
- 34' Benvenuti drops a long pass to give away a scrum on the left; but we're taking a break as Castrogiovanni needs treatment afetr apparently getting a few boots in the ribs while on the deck.
- 33' England steal the Italian line-out and spin it out to Ashton on the far side, but the blue defence is there in force and yet again the visitors make no headway.
- 32' Barritt penalised for a dangerous tackle, taking Canale before he's landed while jumping for a high ball. Italy kick for touch in the 22m.
- 31' Farrell tries to hack at a loose ball but only succeeds in falling over; the pack are there to support, but England still struggling to make yards.
- 30' Italy's backs are strangely bunched up, and Burton tries a chip through - taken by England, can they do more with it this time?
- 29' England win a line-out, but Ben Youngs thumps it straight back to the Italians with an up and under.
- 28' Italy trying again to make something happen, coming up the blind side on the left but again losing the ball in the tackle.
- 27' PENALTY GOAL - 3-0 ENGLAND: As good a kick as you'll ever see from Farrell, straight through the middle with plenty of power and England take the lead.
- 26' From the right half of the pitch and a good 40m out, Farrell will take this penalty...
- 25' Italy regain the ball and try to make something happen - but they've lost it! Strettle kicks through to chase upfield, but is tripped and loses the foot race to Benvenuti! It's not judged deliverate, but is still a penalty.
- 24' The Italians pour forward once more the pack in great form so far today - but Burton's misjudged kick goes out and it's a 22m drop-out.
- 23' Ashton, pegged in, passes to Foden who sticks the ball in touch. Italy throw in just inside the England half.
- 22' Italy move upfield and kick deep, Ashton is there to collect once more.
- 21' England finally win a line-out, and the scrum are attacking in the 22m. The backs finally get in on the act, Charlie Hodgson trying out a switch pass with Brad Barritt... but Barritt fumbles it to give the ball away.
- 20' England spin the ball wide and Foden puts through a grubber kick for Ashton to chase. Ashton doesn't get it, but Masi is forced to run it out into touch.
- 20' The aerial ping pong finally stops as Parisse is nailed by Farrell to force the turnover. England scrum in the centre of the pitch, 30m out.
- 19' Nobody seems able to find touch at the moment, with both sets of backs just thumping it back and forth at each other, probably hoping for the knock on.
- 18' England win the scrum and Youngs kicks it upfield, but McLean is there again to take the ball. Burton kicks for the corner deep into the 22m, but Chris Ashton is there and makes an excellent mark.
- 17' Just not a day for clever handling moves - neither set of players seems able to hang onto the ball well in this snow and ice.
- 16' McLean offloads, but his supporting man Benvenuti spills the pass and it's a scrum, England put in.
- 15' England win the line out but turn it over, and Italy winger Luke McLean comes steaming up the left wing into the visitors' half.
- 14' Italy lose their momentum as Gori is penalised for hanging on to the ball in the tackle. Hodgson kicks again, England throw on the Italian 10m.
- 13' England lose their own throw-in and Burton ends up with the ball, darting upfield and putting in a kick on the left just outside the 22m. And Italy pinch another England throw in! The home side well on top at the moment.
- 12' Burton fails to find touch with the penalty, and after a pair of kicks by the full backs Masi ends up putting the ball out at the Italian 10m line.
- 11' Chris Robshaw takes it quickly, but his team-mates are caught on the top and England concede a penalty.
- 10' Youngs kicks from the line-out and McLean spills it out of play.
- 9' Decent scrum from the visitors, who make a few yards and force the Italians to spin it around. Penalty England, and Hodgson thumps it out at the 10m line.
- 8' Foden's kick goes straight back to Burton. Italy come forward again and get into the English 22m, but scrum-half Gori lets it slip out of his hands and it's a scrum to England.
- 7' Italy turn it over, but Burton immediately kicks it back upfield and Foden makes a mark in the 22m.
- 6' Poor handling by England as the pack try to keep recycling the ball, but end up getting pushed yet further back. England are keeping the ball well, but getting pushed back all the time.
- 6' England win the line out but are pressed back by a fierce Italian defence and are back on the 10m line already.
- 5' Italy win the scrum and Parisse tries to make a few metres; the ball comes out to Gori, who punts upfield - only to gift England a line-out on the 22m.
- 4' Italy force England wide, and Youngs can't hang onto a pass. Scrum, Italy ball, 10m out and on the right flank.
- 3' England have all the possession so far, but are stuck in the centre of the pitch - but now Hodgson finds a gap and breaks through, with Palmer in support. England up into the 22m.
- 2' It's incredible how much snow hasn't been cleared off the pitch. They could really have done with an orange ball today. Needless to say the match sponsors' logo has been cleared properly, however...
1' We've kicked off in a freezing, snowy Rome.- 15:57 And now the Italian one. Italy make two changes for England
- 15:56 The English national anthem first. England unchanged for Italy clash
- 15:55 They're just untangling it now. And the teams run out to music and a great welcome.
- 15:54 England and Italy are ready to run out in the cold... and there is a problem as the camera that shoots across the pitch on a line gets caught on a post!
- 15:53 Italy coach Jacques Brunel: "We've never played a Six Nations match here in Rome with rain [even]... there won't be a big problem because of the snow - the temperature will rise during the game. The guys have shown in last few years they have a very good standard and this team has got a chance of winning every game; today we have a better chance as they have a new coach and new situation. I hope that the guys will play one of the best matches of their lives to get this victory."
- 15:50 Check out the key stats to whet your appetite for all this weekend's matches. Six Nations week 2 statistics
- 15:48 There is plenty of snow on the pitch in freezing conditions in Rome.
- 15:47 Chris Ashton believes life on the straight and narrow is already paying dividends for England. Ashton: New discipline helping England
- 15:45 Welcome to LIVE commentary as England face Italy in the Six Nations in front of 70,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico.
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Summary
Italy versus England Venditti 38’, Benvenuti 41’ Tries Hodgson 51’ Burton 42’ Conversions Farrell 51’ Burton 48’ Penalties Farrell 27’, 36’, 55’, 67’ Drops
Live Team Line-Up
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ItalyManager: Jacques Brunel
On the Field
- Lo Cicero
- Ghiraldini
- Castrogiovanni
- Geldenhuys
- Bortolami
- Zanni
- Barbieri
- Parisse
- Gori
- Burton
- McLean
- Canale
- Benvenuti
- Venditti
- Masi
Subs
- Bergamasco
- Pavanello
- Semenzato
- Cittadini
- Botes
- d'Apice
- Morisi
Injured
None
Suspended
None
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EnglandManager: Stuart Lancaster
On the Field
- Corbisiero
- Hartley
- Cole
- Botha
- Palmer
- Croft
- Robshaw
- Dowson
- Youngs
- Hodgson
- Strettle
- Farrell
- Barritt
- Ashton
- Foden
Subs
- Stevens
- Parling
- Brown
- Dickson
- Turner-Hall
- Webber
- Morgan
Injured
None
Suspended
None